It’s no question that the pandemic is weighing on us, particularly when it comes to our mental health. 
 
Over the last few weeks, our officers have responded to several calls where someone has been in crisis and needed immediate assistance. These calls are not always straightforward, and sometimes other factors play into how and why we respond. 
 
For example, in one of our crisis calls, domestic violence also played a factor. In another call, the person was armed with a rifle. Just this past week, a man was in crisis on an overpass above Highway 101.  
 
But in all of these calls, our officers took careful steps to ensure not just that the situation was resolved peacefully, but that the individuals in crisis got the assistance, and resources, that they needed. For example, we are proud to have a partnership with the Santa Clara County Mental Crisis Response Team, and we often are able to refer individuals to their care for follow-up. 
 
We are also fortunate that we have many officers who are on patrol who are specially trained in crisis intervention – in addition to everyone receiving basic de-escalation and crisis intervention training in the academy, more than 50 percent of our officers have received additional training specifically on crisis intervention techniques. We also have a team – the Crisis Intervention Team -- that receives specialized training so that in the event that when we respond to calls involving someone in crisis, we can begin to work to de-escalate the situation immediately until more resources, including MCRT members, can get on scene. 
 
We take these calls incredibly seriously, and we know that as people need help, we want to be able to provide well-rounded responses from start to finish. Our primary goal always is to ensure the safety of all, particularly the individual in crisis. 
 
We care deeply that those who need help receive all assistance they need. We know that sometimes, we play a part in that effort, and that is a responsibility we take earnestly. 
 
We’re here if you need us, Mountain View. We also encourage you to take a look at the County’s MCRT for additional information. But please remember, if you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, call 9-1-1 for immediate help.